Alkass English
British racing star and three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick has officially ticked off the ultimate item on her motorsport bucket list, completing 32 laps in a Formula 1 car at Portugal's Portimao circuit.
Reflecting on the milestone, Chadwick described the experience as surreal: "The feeling you get from a car like that is pretty incredible. And then at a track like Portimao, it's a proper rollercoaster."
The Brutal Physical Toll
Preparing for the extreme G-forces required rigorous simulator work and intense physical training—particularly heavy neck strengthening. Describing the sheer power of the car, Chadwick noted:
"As soon as you accelerate out of the pit-lane, your head hits the back of the headrest because it's so aggressive. You wake up the next morning like you've been in a fight with Mike Tyson."
Chasing History
Chadwick joins an ultra-exclusive group of just 13 women to ever drive a modern F1 car. With no female driver having started an official Grand Prix since Lella Lombardi in 1975, Chadwick remains a passionate advocate for women in motorsport. While breaking into F1's elite 22-driver grid remains fiercely competitive for anyone, she believes ongoing initiatives like F1 Academy and team development programs are paving a positive path forward.
"I genuinely believe with everything that we're doing now to support female talent, it's only going to lead in a positive direction," she said.